Over 2,000 Sailors at Training Support Center Great Lakes participated in a Pass-In-Review (PIR) on Ross Field at Naval Station Great Lakes Oct. 11.

Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck, director of 21st Century Sailor, served as Reviewing Officer for the event that was attended by area command leadership and community leaders celebrating the 243rd Navy Birthday.

"Today’s Pass-In-Review was awesome; what a great way to spend the Navy’s birthday then with the 2,000 Sailors out there today,” Sobeck said. “We are in a great place at TSC. We got the momentum going from Recruit Training Command into the training continuum at TSC where the foundation is really strong.”

The review is a long standing military tradition that began as a way for a newly assigned commander to inspect the troops. Participating in TSC’s ceremony serves to help teach the students about Navy heritage and traditions. 

Meskimen was proud to introduce his Sailors to Sobeck, fellow Commanding Officers, Executive Officers, Command Master Chiefs, and civilian guests from the many organizations that support Sailors.

“I am proud to be part of a service that shows respect toward all people without regard to race, religion, or gender,” he said.  “For in our US Navy the day-to-day duty of every Navy man and woman is to work together as a team to improve the quality of our work, our people and ourselves. But I know that with over two hundred and forty years of experience, the US Navy will continue to serve our fellow Americans. I applaud our newest Sailors today as they continue the Navy’s honored tradition of Honor, Courage and Commitment.”

Prior to the Pass-In-Review Sobeck attended a brief of student indoctrination’s Life Skills training. Sailors arriving on board from boot camp attend the training before any rate-specific courses. Subjects taught in the course cover sexual assault intervention, military pay and entitlements, healthy relationships, navigating stress, operations security, banking and financial management service, and responsible alcohol use.

He also enjoyed lunch with the Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD). CSADD put junior Sailors in a position to stop their shipmates from making decisions that will have negative impacts on their life and their Navy career. The program is geared toward Sailors E5 and below, between ages 18 to 25. They promote positive choices and develop leadership through organizing local social networks, facilitating discussion, producing visual messages, promoting community involvement and hosting recreational events.

“It was great getting the chance to meet the CSADD leadership and really understand the great things they are doing,” Sobeck said. “We are finding out more and more in the Navy that Sailors taking care of Sailors leads to success.”

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